Pin up bathing suits have become all the rage during the past few years. Several prominent fashion designers such as Dianne von Furstenberg and Michael Kors have come up with their own collections.¹ This type of swimwear, with its playful and whimsical designs and colors evokes a sense of nostalgia among women of various ages.

It isn't just high-end fashion designers who have launched collections of pin up swimwear. Former fashion model Daisy Lowe is also stepping into the design business with her own line of vintage-inspired bathing suits in a partnership with the British retail company Peacocks.² She said that one of her goals for her collection is to make it accessible and affordable; hence her decision to have her swimwear items priced below £18.

Today's pin up bathing suits are inspired by swimwear from the 1920s and beyond that were worn by so-called pin up girls, the most notable of which included celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, Betty Grable, and Sophia Loren. Posters of pin up girls adorned the barracks of soldiers during World War II, and were believed to improve their morale.

Classic or retro-inspired bathing suits for women expose less skin than the modern string bikinis or monokinis, but this doesn't mean they are any less sexy or appealing. On the contrary, many feel they are more titillating since they tend to encourage the imagination to work overtime.

Designs and cuts come in a variety of styles that are suitable for both skinny and full-figured women. One-piece retro swimwear features details such as sweetheart necklines, wide-strapped halters and short-skirted bottoms. Bikini bottoms tend to be cut lower in the leg while having a high waist that can sometimes cover up the belly button. Fabric patterns are virtually limitless, from polka dots to stripes to floral designs to solid blocks of color.

Retro-inspired bikinis and one-piece suits are readily available in various stores, both online and in the shopping malls. But those with a passion and talent for crafting their own swimwear can add a touch of authenticity to their creations by using pin up bathing suit patterns from the 1930s to the 1970s.³
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